You stayed there for a moment longer, wrapped in Sylus' arms, feeling the rise and fall of his chest beneath you. His warmth seemed to calm the storm that had been raging inside you all day. But now that the initial wave of relief had passed, a small voice in the back of your mind began to whisper.
You were interrupting him. He had been working-probably on something important, knowing the kind of business he ran-and here you were, breaking down in his lap like a child. The walls you'd spent so long building began to creep back up, your pride prickling with embarrassment.
You lifted your head slightly, just enough to speak, your voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry... for disturbing your work, Sylus."
His hand, still resting gently on your back, paused for a moment, and then he slowly pulled away just enough to look at you. His eyes softened as they met yours, a mixture of surprise and something deeper you couldn't quite place. He tilted his head slightly, his expression calm and understanding.
"You're not disturbing anything," he said quietly, his voice warm, reassuring. "You're more important than any of that."
His words settled over you like a soothing balm, but you still felt the need to explain, to apologize for your vulnerability. You weren't used to this-leaning on someone, especially him. It had always been easier to keep your distance, to maintain control. But now, with his arms around you and his voice so gentle, it felt almost impossible to hold onto that old version of yourself.
"I didn't mean to just... show up like this," you muttered, avoiding his gaze, your hands fidgeting slightly as they rested against his chest. "I know I've been hard on you, and I-"
"Hey," he interrupted softly, his hand lifting to gently tilt your chin up, forcing you to meet his eyes. "You don't need to apologize. Not for this. Not to me."
His gaze was steady, unwavering, and for the first time in a long time, you felt like someone actually saw you-saw past the icy exterior you had worked so hard to maintain. He wasn't angry, wasn't frustrated with your sudden intrusion. If anything, he seemed almost... relieved, like he had been waiting for you to come to him like this.
"You're allowed to need someone," Sylus continued, his thumb brushing softly against your cheek. "And you don't have to keep pretending you don't. Not with me."
His words hit you harder than you expected, and before you could stop yourself, you leaned back into him, resting your head against his shoulder once more. He didn't hesitate, wrapping his arms around you again, holding you close as if he had been waiting for this moment.
"I just... I didn't know how else to..." you trailed off, your voice muffled against his chest.
"You don't have to explain," he murmured. "I understand."
And somehow, you believed him. Sylus had always been patient, always waiting, never pushing you beyond what you were ready to give. He had respected your distance, your coldness, never once trying to force anything more from you. But now, in this quiet, vulnerable moment, you realized that maybe you didn't want the distance anymore.
You let out a soft sigh, your arms tightening around him slightly as you finally allowed yourself to relax fully in his embrace. For once, you didn't feel the need to push him away or protect yourself from the feelings stirring inside you. Here, with him, it felt okay to let your guard down.
"I'm still sorry," you whispered, your lips brushing against the fabric of his shirt. "But thank you... for being here."
Sylus chuckled softly, a low, comforting sound that rumbled through his chest. "I'll always be here."
And for the first time, you didn't doubt it.
